Spinning top



Oct. 31, 1939. E. s. SAVAGE SPINNING TOP Filed May 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Hill

Oct. 31, 1939. E. s. SAVAGE SPINNING TOP Filed May 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented a. 31, 1939 UNirEo stares earner rricE amsvs SPINNING 'ror Edward s. Savage, Rochester, N. Y. Application May 27, 1938, Serial No. 216,406

16 Claims. (c1. id- 65) My inventicnrelates to spinning tops anda I primary object of the invention is to provide what may be termed an aquatic top-that is to say, a top having fioating means which will permit it to be spun on water or other liquid for a considerable length of time, while the liquid does not ofier any resistance to the spinning of the top.

Another object of the invention. isto provide what might be aptly termed an amphibian top-that is to say, a top which will spin while "floating on water and will also spin on. land or other supporting surface, regardless of whether the surface is smooth or rough.

Another object of this invention is to provide 5 an improved form of bounding-top.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of bounding top with detachable bounding means which may be easily detached from the top and easily attached thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an amphibian top with floating means which also constitutes a bounding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a top having a separate spinner head operating in a manner similar to a well known type of top and spinner head, but eliminating the use of the usual stem extending abovethe top to receive and guide said spinner head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved top spinning means which may be carried by the top while spinning without interfering with or offering any resistance to the.

spinning of the top.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bounding top in which the bounding member is pivotally connected to the top permitting the top to spin while supported on the stationaryv bounding member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bounding member in the form of a ball which may be hollow and charged with an air or other gas pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of the pre- 5. ferred embodiment of the invention with the spinning head in position to be rotated for spinning the top.

Figure 2 is a perspective view in side elevation of the top shown in Fig. 1 representing the top as spinning on water without the spinner head.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a spring actuated spinner head designed for spinning the top shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 4L- is a perspective View of the top shown ii in Fig. 1 in which thetop is represented as spinning on water with its spinning axis inclined at an acute angle inrelation to the surfaceof the water.

Figure ,5 is a perspective View of the top shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the gyroscopic action of the .5 top as it spins horizontally with its flotation element resting on a stationary support. Figure 6 is a View in side elevation and partly in section of a modification of the invention adapted to be spun by a string. 10

Figure 7 is a vertical, sectional view of another modification of the invention in which a spring element for spinning the top is carried centrally within the spinning member.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of another 15 modification of the invention in which a spring element for spinning the top is carried within the flotation member. 7

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation, with most parts in central section, of a modification of this 20 invention as applied to a conventional gyroscopic top.

Figure lllis a perspective view of aiiat circular spring stop or locking means employed in the three modifications Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views refer to similar parts.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. land illustrated perspec- 30 tively in Figs. 2 to 5; the principal elements of the embodiment of my invention here shown are the spinner head A, the rotating member or body B, the vertical spindle C and the combination float and bounding member D. In this construction 35 the body A comprises the oppositely formed body sections or shells ill and i l preferably made of sheet metal and joined together by the peripheral seam l2. Thev upper shell it is provided with an integral raised central portion generally i'iat surface, which latter is provided with diametrically opposite orifices i4 and circumferentially arranged indentations l5. These orifices and indentations are provided to cooperate with interengaging clutch and locking means carried by the spinner head A. A flanged tip member l6 fits into a center hole in the shell iii with. the flange i7 bearing against the shell, the lower end id of the tip member it fits into a hole in the center of the flanged disc Bil and is secured therein by being swedged or riveted over as shown, thus securing the disc .49 in fixed position with its upwardly formed peripheral flange 2B in contact with the under surface of the shell ill.

This disc l9 serves to prevent a flow of air into of the invention shown in 25 it having a 40 "the top body through perforations in the raised portion l3, which flow of air would reduce or destroy the humming sound of the top. It also supports the ends of the downwardly sloping tongues of sheet metal forming the bottoms of the indentations l5.

The tip member i6 is formed with an axial hole 2| extending upwardly from the bottom thereof with reduced diameter at its upper end to provide a supporting thrust bearing for the top body B to rotate about the stationary spindle C. The spindle C terminates at its upper end in the small pivot bearing 22 and is freely journaled in the bearing hole 2!. A lower bearing for the body B is provided by the flanged hole 23 in the center of the shell ii. The usual humming holes 24 near the periphery of the lower shell H and two similar holes located diametrically opposite thereto (not shown in the drawings) cause the top to emit a humming sound while spinning. A collar 25, fixed to the spindle C close to but not normally contacting the shell H, serves'to prevent withdrawal of the spindle C from the top body B. The lower end of the spindle C is provided with a knob 26 and fits into a cor responding socket in the hollow rubber ball D which functions both as a floating element and a bounding element. This elastic socket connection of the spindle C to the ball D provides a simple means for removably attaching the ball D to the spindle C, the ball being easily removed from the spindle by pulling it therefrom or replaced by forcing it thereon. With the ball D removed, the top may be spun, as an ordinary top, on the rounded tip 25, or the top may be spun in inverted position on the tip l6.

Referring to the construction here shown pertaining to the top spinning means; the improved spinner head A, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is in most respects the same as the well known Gibbs spinner head which has long been used to spin smaller sizes of hollow sheet metal tops. Therefore it is not considered necessary to describe in detail the parts of this construction here shown which are old and well known.

My spinner head comprises the spool shaped wood body 27, the helical actuating spring 28, the locking pin 29, the helical spring 35 for holding the locking pin in lowermost position and the sheet metal cap 3| seamed onto the top of the wood body 21. The novel feature of this construction resides in the provision of a centrally located tube 32 which fits loosely within the spring 28, and extends upwardly thru a free fitting center hole in the cap 3|. The upper end of the tube or driving stem 32 is closed in rounded form and its lower end is cut to form two diametrically opposite claw shaped teeth 33 which extend below the lower end of the body 2'! and form in efiect a clutch end to enter and engage with the two orifices M which are located close to and on opposite sides of the tip member i6. It is obvious that, instead of the two clutch teeth 33 here shown, three or more equally spaced clutch teeth may be provided on the end of the tube 32 and a corresponding number of orifices it provided in the top to engage the clutch teeth. The upper end of the spinner spring 28 is fastened to the wood body by the tack 34 as is customary, while the lower end of the spring, instead of having the usual downward hook, is bent to form a horizontal inwardly extending hook 35 which is hooked into a hole in the tube 32 as shown.

'in use the spinner head A is placed centrally against the top, the lower end of the tube 32 being placed over the tip member l6 which serves as a guide to centrally locate the spinner head in the position shown in Fig. 1. The head A is then rotated in a clockwise direction. The teeth 33 enter and hook into the orifices l4 and further turning of the head winds the spring 28 while the locking pin 29 falls successively into the indentations IE to prevent backward movement of the head and to retain the spring 28 in energized condition. It should be noted that while the head A is being turned and after the spring has been brought to proper tension, the tube i3 is held in axial alignment with the axis of the top because the turning force of the spring transmitted to the tube 32 and angularly undercut leading edges of the teeth 33 tends to hold the tube tightly against the fiat surface of the top thus eliminating any tendency to cock the tube and spinning head over at an angle in relation to the axis of the top.

Heretofore tops employing the above mentioned Gibbs type of spinning head have been provided with an axial stem (usually a metal tube) extending from the lower top member upwardly through and to a considerable height above the upper top member and rounded at its upper end, such stem being necessary to receive and guide the spinning head and to provide means for depressing and detaching the top from the spinning head by pushing downwardly on the upper end. In my construction no upwardly extending stem is employed on the top, thus effecting a considerable saving in weight of the top which is particularly desirable in a floating top and also contributing to the attractive appearance of the top. Elimination of the stem also permits the use of the tip member I6 on the point of which the top may be caused to spin in an inverted position. After winding the spinning head A the top may be spun by preferably holding it vertically and pressing down on the rounded end of the tube 32, which operation withdraws the locking pin 29 from engagement with one of the indentations i and permits the spring 28 to rotate the tube 32 and so spin the top through the clutch connection of the teeth 3| in the orifices it. As the beveled teeth constitute an overrunning clutch, the top will release itself and fall away from the spinner head B. If desired the spinning operation may be performed by one hand while the ball D is held in the other hand.

Referring to Fig. 2 in which the wavy lines W represent the surface of water; when the top is spun it may be held by the ball fioat D and placed vertically on water where it will continue to spin in a vertical position, as here shown, for a considerable length of time, while the ball D may rotate at a slow speed due to slight friction of the bearings against the supporting spindle C. If the ball D touches the side of the water container, the rotation of the ball will be stopped momentarily.

As the spinning speed decreases the top will begin to tilt with its spinning axis at a gradually increasing angle from the vertical while the axis of the top slowly revolves with precessional movement, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 4, until the top finally topples over. If top is spun and first placed in an inclined position on the water it will continue to spin in an inclined position while its axis revolves slowly with precessional movement and the inclination of the axis from the vertical will gradually increase until the spinning speed becomes too slow to support the top.

Obviously it is possible to employ, instead of the round ball float here shown, a float having some stability or tendency of its own to remain upright on water, the stability being due to a flatter shape of Wider area or 'due to a weighted bottom. Such a float could be made to hold the top upright until and after it had stopped spinning. There would, however, be no surprising or mysterious efiect in the performance of such a top. The fact that an unstable float and attached top, which will not stand up on water when not spinning, will stand up on water and perform as this top does while spinning, tends to create much surprise and interest in its performance. The same is true in'reference to the other modifications of the invention shown in the drawings.

In Fig. 5 the top is represented performing as a gyroscopic top, spinning in a horizontal position with its spherical float member D supported on the mouth of the bottle E. As indicated by the dotted circle (in perspective), the spinning top revolves with precessional movement, slowly about a vertical axis coincident with the center of the bottle, while spinning in the horizontal position. Any suitable support with slightly concave top of sufficient width will serve to demonstrate this gyroscopic performance of the top. In making this demonstration, it is preferable to first place the spinning top nearly vertical in a slightly tilted position on the support, then the top will gyrate with gradually increasing angle from the vertical until it finally is spinning with its axis sloping downwardly and will fall from the support onlywhen the top body contacts the sup port. As already mentioned, the hollow rubber ball shaped float D is designed to function also as a bounding member and so employed adds greatly to the play value of the top. This ball is preferably charged with air or other gas under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure in order to increase the height of the rebound.

While various forms of bounding tops have been made and patented, the improved and novel features of my invention produce better and more ing forms of bounding tops.

interesting bounding actions and permit a play performance with this top impossible with exist- The chief advantages obtained inmy construction are due to the fact that the bounding member is not rigidly attached to the top but is rotatably attached there to permitting the top body to revolve independently of the bounding member and to the fact that my construction preferably employs a cornparatively large hollow resilient rubber chamber or ball with internal gas or air pressure producing an excessively high rebound.

The interest in former bounding tops resides in the fact that they may be spun and dropped to a hard surface such as a floor when they will rebound several times while the top spins. With such tops the height of each successive rebound is less than half the previous rebound, the result being that the high bounding is very brief and only the first two or three rebounds are of sufiicient height to create interest in the performance. It is, therefore, necessary to again spin the top to again enjoy the brief bounding effect.

The chief advantage in my bounding top resides in the fact that the top may be caused to bound higher than other bounding tops and that the bounding may be caused to repeat many times during one spinning of the top. To accomplish 0nd or later rebound or he this result the person or player manipulating the top spins the top and then holds it spinning upright on the palm of the hand. He then tosses it up to a considerable height in the air resulting in a high rebound. The player then quickly thrusts the open palm of his hand under the top as it reaches the upper limit of its rebound and allows it to fall thereon where it will continue spinning in an upright position. He again tosses the top upward and repeats the performance as long as the top continues to spin. If the playerwishes he may catch the top on the secmay wait until the top ceases bounding, then pick it up by means of the ball D and again toss it upward to repeat the bounding action, which performance may be repeated as long as the top continues to spin.

Another method of playing with the top and one which may be employed in the playing of a game is for two or more in turns on the rebound or the top may be tossed directly from one player to the other to be caught on the palm of the hand of the receiving player while the top continues to spin in an erect position. Other types of bounding tops cannot be caused to perform in the various ways described above because they will not bound high enough, and to catch such spinning top with its pointed tip on the palm of the hand would be obviously unpleasant or harmful and if so caughtthe fric- 1 tion of the hand against the top, even momentarily, would soon cause the top to stop spinning.

Figure 6 shows another modification of my invention in which the rotor or spinning body mem ber B8 is made of solid material such as wood or suitable composition in the form of a wheel with a rim 36 of circular cross section, a web 37, an upper hub 38 and a lower hub 39, both hubs being provided with beaded peripheries at their ends. An axial hole ill extends vertically through they hubs to provide clearance for the spindle CL.

A flanged metal tip member at is secured to the end of the upper hub 38 by being crimped over the beaded end of the hub as shown at M. This tip member carries the central rounded tip ill and is formed with an axial hole M which provides the supporting thrust bearing for the body Bl to rotate about the stationary spindle Cl, the

players to catch the top w the upper end of the spindle Cl being turned to form a pivot to fit freely in the bearing hole as.

The sheet metal cap #35 is crimped onto the beaded hub at 46 and is pierced centrally to provide the lower bearing for the spindle at M. The spindle Cl passes through the float member Di and is held imposition by the collar it fixed to the shaft Cl and the flanged lower end ii? of the spindle. A collar 5G, fixed on the spindle Cl, slightly above the bearing 45, serves to retain the body member Bl against removal from the spindle Ci. The spherical float member Dr! is preferably made of some very light weight material such as white cedar, cork or balsa wood. Since the of float here shown is not of itself elastic a bounding element is providedby the coned spiral spring 50 which is fastened to the flattened lower surface of the float by means of the staples M or any other suitable means. A rounded button 52 is preferably secured to the lower end of the spring .50 to provide a suitable bearing surface for catching the top on the palm of the hand on the rebound.

In use this top is spun by the old string method, the string being wound around the upper hub 33 and pulled away quickly by one hand while the float member Di is held in the other hand. This top will perform on water or gyroscopically the same as the top shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and described in the foregoing. The coiled spring bounding means does not, however, produce as high a rebound as the hollow rubber ball with internal air pressure already described. Obviously this top may also be fitted with the rubber ball type of fioat and bounding member. In Fig. 6 the top is shown spinning upright on a surface. It will also spin in inverted position on the tip 43.

Figure 7 illustrates another modification of my invention differing primarily from the embodiments of the invention already described in that the spinning means is wholly incorporated in the top. In this construction the rotating member or top body B2 is formed of the two sheet metal shells 8D and 5! seamed together at 62. A tip member 63 is swedged into a center hole in the shell fill at 64, the rounded point 65 serving as a spinning tip when the top is spun in an inverted position. An axial hole 68 serves as the supporting thrust bearing for rotation of the body B2 on the spindle C2. A tubular extension fi'l of the tip member 53 extends axially downward there from and furnishes a supporting means for the sleeve fill which is tightly fitted thereon. The sleeve 68 is provided with an inner annular flange til encircling but not contacting the spindle C2. The spindle CZ carries the fixed collar l close to but not normally contacting the fiange 69 which serves to retain the body member B2 against removal from the spindle C2. The vertical axially positioned tubular shell ll fits freely at its upper end over the sleeve 68 which furnishes a bearing therefor for rotational and longitudinal move-- ment thereon. The lower end of the tube ll fits freely in the flanged bearing hole Ila formed centrally in the lower shell ill. A circular sheet metal disc E2 is fastened to the end of the tube H by means of tongues '13 which enter slots in the disc and are bent inwardly as shown. The disc '52 is pierced at its center to form a bearing M to rotate about the spindle C2. The disc also carries at its periphery two or more equally spaced depending teeth l which are preferably beveled similar to the teeth 33 shown in Fig. 3. The actuating spring l6 loosely encircles the tube '55. Its upper end carries a hook ll which is hooked into a sheared indentation T8 of the shell 65.7. The lower end of the spring is provided with an inwardly bent hook which enters a hole in the tube ll at 19. The shell (ii is formed at the bottom with a generally fiat circular surface iii), which surface has indentations 8!, preferably three or four in number, formed similarly to the indentations l5 shown in Fig. 2 and serve a like purpose. The lower end of the spindle C2 is inserted into a tube or socket in the rubber float and bounding member D2, the grooves 82 near the end of the spindle serving to increase the grip of the rubber socket on the spindle. This connecting means permits detaching the float member from the spindle by pulling it therefrom. In this construction the spindle cannot carry an integral enlargement such as the knob 26 of Fig. '7 because it is necessary when assembling the parts that some parts be put onto the spindle from the lower end.

The curved circular sheet metal shell 83 is provided with a flat upper portion 86 and a hole 85 in the center thereof fits freely on the spindle C2. A sheet metal saucer shaped shell 86 is fastened inside of the shell 83 by means of the seamed or crimped joint iii. A hole 88 in the center of the shell 86 fits freely on the spindle C2, the two shells 83 and 86 forming a unit which may be rotated on the spindle C2 and may also be moved longitudinally thereon.

A flat circular spring 89, shown also in perspective in Fig. 10, is riveted at one end to be normally held against the under surface of the fiat upper portion 84 of the shell 83, the rivet hole being shown at 90, and the other end of the spring is bent upward to form a vertical prong as shown at 9|. The vertical prong passes up through a free fitting slot pierced in the shell 83. The elasticity of the spring 89 is such that the vertical prong 9! may be depressed by moderate pressure and will return to the upper position shown when the pressure is removed. Orifices 92 in the flat surface B l correspond in number to the teeth l5 and are positioned to engage with the latter when the shell 83 is moved upward and rotated, the orifices 92 and teeth i5 forming a driving clutch when shell 83 is turned in one direction which will disengage when the spring '56 is deenergized and the body B2 continues to spin. A friction sleeve 93, made of some resilient material such as cork or rubber, fits only sufficiently tight on the spindle to provide frictional resistance to the longitudinal movement of the shell 83 on spindle C2.

In this way the shells 83 and 86 with the spring 39 and prong 9| form a spring winding element which may be moved upward to engage the clutch teeth 15 with the orifices 92 in which position the shell 33 may be rotated to wind the spring 18, the spring prong 9i snapping successively into the indentations 8i and acting as a locking pin to prevent reverse movement of the shell 83, the prong 9! serving the same purpose as the locking pin 29 of Fig. 1. When the spring it is sufficiently tensioned the top may be spun by pulling the shell 83 downward thus releasing the prong 9| from engagement with one of the indentations BI and permitting the spring 16 to unwind and thereby rotate the body B2 while the teeth 15 are still locked in engagement with the orifices 92. It is to be noted that in pulling the spinner shell 83 downward to release the prong 9!, the clutch teeth 15 do not disengage but pull the tube ll downward with the spinner shell 83. When the spring is completely deenergized the beveled teeth 15 disengage from the orifices 92 the tube H moves up to its normal position and the body B2 continues to spin freely, there being no further contact with the spinning means. The friction of the sleeve 93 on the spindle CZ serves to normally retain the spinning shell in its lowermost position as shown in the drawings. In performance this modification of the invention is similar to the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and described in the foregoing.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 8 also carries the entire spinning means, the actuating spring being located in the float. It may be noted that, as far as the spinning means is concerned, this construction is very similar to that of Fig. 1 in principle of operation, except that in this construction, the spinning means is not removable from the top. This similarity is more readily observed by viewing Fig. 8 in an inverted position. It will therefore not be necessary to elaborate at length on the functions of the different parts comprising this modification. The rotating member or top body B3 comprises two sheet metal shells I80 and llll seamed together at H12. A tip member I03 provides a tip on which the top may be spun in an inverted position. and also provides the supporting thrust bearing m l- A flat surface I05, forming the bottom of the shell Illl, is provided with the orifices laid and indentations iii! similar to the. orifices M. and indentations I5 of Figs. 1 and 2. The spindle C3 terminates in the pivot bearing in at its upper end and carries the collar loll which serves to. retain the body member B3 against removal from the spindle. C3. Inv this construction the float and bounding member D3 comprises the rigid upper member H159 preferably made of light weight wood orcork and the lower elastic bounding member llfl preferably made of rubber formed substantially hemispherical in shape with an inside annular bead illat. its. upper periphery which fits into a corresponding groove in the rigid upper member we, the two members. m9 and till forming the substantially spherical float member D3. The upper portion of the member [M is formed with a flat, circular raised portion l 52 with a groove H3 encircling its base. An axial hole H4. extends from the surface M2 to near the bottom of the member led, to provide a chamber to receive the actuating spring ME. A sheet metal cap member H6 with straight tubular periphery H1 fits on the raised portion M2, its lower edge being. crimped into the groove l l3 as shown. The cap member H6 has a center hole Hit which provides a free fitting bearing for the tube member H9 A flat circular spring 35', shown in perspective in Fig. 10, is riveted at its flat end 99 to the under surface of the shell lid, with its vertical end or prong 9i extending upward thru a free fitting hole in the cap Hi5. This spring member 39 and prong {ii is a duplicate of the part 83 described in connection with Fig.7 and serves a like purpose, the spring Ql acting as a locking pin to engage with thev indentations I01.

A clutch disc are with beveled upwardly extending teeth l2l, two or more in number and equally spaced about the periphery of the disc, are adapted to interlock with a like number of similarly spaced orifices W6. The clutch disc i251 is fastened to the upper end of the tube llii by tongue and slot means and a center hole in the disc 523 provides a free fitting bearing for the spindle C3. The upper end of the actuating spring H5 is hooked to the cap He at 22 and the lower end of the spring is hooked into a hole in the tube H9 at 523. The lower end of the tube is partially closed forming a free fitting bearing on the spindle C3 at I'M. A hole 125, bushed with rubber or other suitable material, furnishes a friction guide bearing for the spindle C3, permitting the spindle C3 to be moved longitudinally within limits and hold the spindle and top body 3 normallyin their uppermost position as shown. A head I26 on the lower end of the spindle limits its upward movement. A

rubber post I21! with a cupped upper end is formed integral with the rubber shell I Hi and serves to increase the elasticity of the bonding member and also serves as a pushing means for pushing the spindle C3 upward.

In use. the spring I 05 is wound by holding the spinning member B3 in one hand in any convenient position, forcing the float member D3 toward the spinning member and rotating the member D3 until the spring is'sufliciently tensioned. In the winding of this top the parts function exactly as corresponding parts in the spinner head A and spinning member B of Fig. 1. After the spring H5 is wound to proper tension,

,t the. top is spun by pushing inwardly at the bottom of the bounding member at H28, thereby causing the rubber post Hi! to force the spindle C3 and body member D3 upward, disengaging the locking prong 9! from the retaining indentation ill? and permitting the spring to rotate the member B3. In this construction the float member D3 is not designed to be removable but the bounding member lit may be easily pried away from the rigid member liltiif desired. It is apparent that the top may be used as a simple spinning top to spin in inverted position on the tip it, the member 1819 functioning'as an attached spinner head. I This top will perform in all respects similar to the embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing, but it is not as efficient on the rebound as are the embodiments employing a pressure charged hollow rubber ball as shown in Figs. 1, '7 and 9.

In Fig. 9 I show a modification of the invention as applied to a conventional type of gyroscopic top fitted with a combined float and bounding means andan improved spinning means carried by the top. The rotating member or fly wheel D4 is fixed to its rotary spindle C l, the spindle terminating in the small pivot bearings 65% and l5l. The usual gyroscope frame is employed comprising the main ring 552 and lighter guard ring I53 at right angles thereto and shown in section welded to the ring IE2 at the contact point it. This gyroscope frame difiers from the conventional type in having an upwardly extending stem 955 comprising an upper extension of the lower stem 56. The upper end of this stem l55 is drilled to provide the lower bearing of the spindie Ct at Mil. This stem 1155 also provides a bearing for a cylindrical spinner shell 157 which is designed for rotational and longitudinal movement thereon. The float and bounding member D4, which is removably fitted to the stem IE6, is the same as the member D of Fig. l.

A sheet metal cylindrical or cupped shaped shell I58 has a substantially flat bottom 59 with a central hole ltll fitted over the spindle C l, the shell being fastened at its upper end to the fiy wheel by means of tongues Mil which project thru holes in the fly wheel web and are bent inwardly against the upper surface thereof. The bottom W9 is provided with the orifices 562 and indentations H33, preferably four in number, which function as do the orifices i l and indentations E5 of Figs. 1 and 2.

.The actuating spring E64, here employed, is the fiat spiral clock spring type and is carried within the cylindrical cupped shaped metal shell i5l which is recessed and pierced at its center 5&5 to receive the elastic bushing 1556, which bushing provides a frictional bearing on the stem the for rotation and longitudinal movement of the shell 95? thereon. A sheet metal embossed cover plate l6!- provides a closure for the shell Ml, the upper edge of which is seamed over at I33 to retain the plate It! in fixed position. The outer end of the spring ltd is pierced and hooked onto a tongue I69 which has been sheared and bent iiiwarclly from the peripheral wall of the shell E51.

The inner end of the spring ltd is bent to form an inwardly extending hook which hooks into a slot at I70 in the tubular member I! i. This tubular member I'll is carried axially on the stem l55 and is flanged inwardly at its lower end to form a central bearing fitting freely on the stem I55. The upper end of the tubular member lli is fastened by tongue and slot means to a disc H2 with center hole fitting freely on the stem lbb which disc carries the equally spaced beveled teeth I73,

which teeth are adapted to interlock with the orifices I52. The flat circular spring 89, shown in perspective in Fig. 10, is riveted at the end 90 to the under surface of the cover plate IE7, the upwardly projecting prong Si passing thru a free fitting hole in the plate. It is apparent that the parts comprising the spinning means here described function the same as corresponding parts already described in connection with Figs. 1 and 8.

To spin this top the fly wheel B l is grasped in one hand while with the other hand the spinner shell i5? is first moved upward to engage the clutch teeth H3 with the orifices N52. The shell is then rotated in the proper direction to energize the spring I54 while the locking prong 9i snaps into the indentations I63 and prevents reverse movement of the spinner shell. When the spring is sufficiently tensioned, the top is spun by pulling the spinner shell downward with one hand while holding the top in the other hand by means of the frame rings 52 and I53 or the float D l.

When the shell i5'i is pulled down releasing the locking prong from engagement with one of the indentations 63, the spring lfi l will rotate the fly wheel D4 thu the clutch connection of teeth I'll with orifices 562 and, when the spring MM is completely deenergized continued rotation of the fly wheel 134 causes the clutch prongs Hi to disengage from the orifices H12. It is to be noted that when the shell l-S'l is pulled downward to disengage the prong Bl from an indentation M3, the teeth ill remain in engagement with the orifices 52, causing a slight axial distortion of the spring i8 5, its outer turns being pulled below the more central turns, the spring assuming a cone form with its center uppermost. Clearance is provided between the upper side of the spring I84 and the under surface of the cover plate It! to provide space for this coning effect. When the clutch members disengage the tubular member H and attached spring 86 i drop down to their normal position, permitting the fly wheel B i to spin freely on the pivot bearings i159 and i5l without contacting any portion of the spinning means. The friction bushing W6 will normally retain the spinner shel1 it! in its lowermost position. Obviously the spinning means here described may be designed to use a helical actuating spring, similar to those shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, instead of the fiat spiral spring E64. If such a helical spring were used the stem I55 and sleeve IH would be longer than here shown and the spindle C4 and shell I58 proportionately shorter. The spinner shell l5? would be formed to house the actuating parts and would be provided with a convenient hand hold for rotation about the stem 155.

It will be seen that I have provided in this embodiment of my invention, in addition to the new and novel features of a bounding and floating means, an improved spinning means for gyroscopic tops which eliminates the slow and tiresome string spinning method heretofore employed.

It will be apparent that, instead of the hollow rubber ball floating and bounding member shown in Figs. 1, '7, and 9 it is possible to use sponge rubber balls having a water proof surface. The hollow rubber ball is to be preferred however because of its lighter weight and better bounding qualities.

It is to be desired in any and all of the embodiments of my invention here shown, that the floating member be made as small as possible with sufficient buoyancy to carry the rotating member above the surface of the water while the top is spinning. Therefore, to reduce the load to be carried by the float I prefer to make all metal parts, except the rotating member, the actuating spring and the spindle, of light weight metal such as duralumin or other equally light composition metal.

While I have here shown several specific applications of my invention, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a spinning top, a supporting float therefor comparable in size to that of the top adapted to float on water and support said top above the surface of the water while spinning on said float, and guide means to retain said top while spinning in substantially central position on said float.

2. In a spinning top, a rotary body member, a base member, and means rotatably connecting said members to each other to permit said rotary body member to spin on said base member, said base member constituting floating means having sufficient buoyancy while floating on water to sustain said body member above the surface of the water while said body member is spinning on said base member.

3. A top according to claim 2, in which said base member has a maximum dimension in a horizontal direction, when floating upright in water, which is not materially greater than the maximum horizontal dimension of said body member.

l. A top according to claim 2 in which said base member has insufficient flotation stability to sustain said body member in upright position above the surface of the water when said body member is not spinning.

5. A top according to claim 2 in which the base member is generally rounded in form.

6. A top according to claim 2 in which the base member includes resilient bounding means.

'7. A top according to claim 2 in which the base member comprises mainly rubber and constitutes resilient bounding means.

8. In a spinning top, a rotary body member adapted to be spun as a top and to remain spinning by its momentum for a substantial time after it is spun, a base member, and means rotatably connecting said members to each other to permit said body member to spin on said base member when said base member is stationary, said base member including resilient means permitting it to function as a bounding means.

9. A top according to claim 8 in which the base member comprises a substantially spherical rubber ball.

10. A top according to claim 8 in which the base member comprises a hollow rubber chamber charged with gas pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure.

11. A top according to claim 8 in which the means rotatably connecting said body member and base member comprises a spindle carried by one of said members and extends into the other member, said spindle being provided with a pivotal thrust bearing point at the free end thereof to coact with a thrust bearing carried by said other member and to pivotally sustain the weight of the rotary body member thereon.

12. In a spinning top, a rotary body member and bounding means carried thereby, said bounding means including an airtight chamber which is charged with an internal gas pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure and having an elastic wall constantly tensioned by said internal pressure, which is activated When the top is bounded and which tends to increase the resiliency of the bounding means.

13. In a spinning top, a rotary body member adapted to be spun as a top and to remain spinning by its'momentum for a substantial time after it is spun, and bounding means carried by said rotary body member, said bounding means comprising a rubber ball.

14. In a spinning top, a rotary body member and bounding means carried thereby, said bounding means comprising a hollow rubber ball charged with gas pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure. 7

15. A spinning top including a rotatable spinning body adapted to be spun as a top and to remain spinning by its momentum for a substantial time after itis spun, and resilient bounding means readily attachable to and detachable from said body.

16. A spinning top including a rotatable spinning body adapted to be spun as a top and to means to and detaching from said spinning body.

EDWARD S. SAVAGE; 

